Daily Readings - Sun Sep 25 2022
Amos
1"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!4"Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall,5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,6who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!7Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away."
1 Timothy
11But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which he will display at the proper time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Luke
19"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.20And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.24And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'25But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'27And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house--28for I have five brothers--so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'29But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'30And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'31He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Sermon
The readings today challenge us to reflect on how we live our lives in relation to God and others. In the first reading from Amos, we hear a stern warning to those who live in luxury and indifference to the suffering of others. Amos condemns the complacent and self-indulgent, who feast on fine foods and drink while ignoring the poor and the afflicted. This passage is set in a time when Israel had turned away from God’s covenant, embracing instead a life of excess and injustice. Amos calls them to repentance, urging them to seek justice and humility rather than material comfort.
The second reading from 1 Timothy complements this message by encouraging us to pursue virtue and faith. St. Paul exhorts Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith," to live a life marked by justice, piety, faith, charity, patience, and meekness. This reading reminds us that our ultimate goal is eternal life, and we must remain faithful to God’s commandments, even in the face of challenges. It emphasizes the importance of living a life that reflects our commitment to Christ, who is the source of all life and power.
The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, a powerful lesson about the consequences of failing to love and serve the poor. The rich man, who lived a life of luxury and ignored Lazarus at his gate, finds himself in torment after death, while Lazarus is comforted in the bosom of Abraham. This parable underscores the reality of judgment and the importance of how we treat others during our time on earth. It warns us that our actions—or inactions—have eternal consequences and that we cannot ignore the needs of those around us.
These readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in love and compassion for others. We are called to avoid the trap of complacency and self-indulgence, instead choosing a path of justice, humility, and generosity. Let us ask ourselves: How do I respond to the needs of those around me? Do I use the resources God has given me to serve others, or do I allow myself to become consumed by my own desires? May we strive to live in a way that reflects the love and mercy of God, knowing that our actions will ultimately be measured by how we loved and served Him in the least of His brothers and sisters.